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Bush Made the Tough Calls But the Mistakes Weren't His

LibertySugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:02:17 -0800

President Bush's interview with Charlie Gibson aired last night, and Bush made it clear that he intends to leave office with his head held high. Reflecting on the highs and lows of his presidency, Bush concluded that it has been a "joyous" experience. Here are some of the excerpts:

On the Iraq war intelligence: "The biggest regret of all the presidency has to have been the intelligence failure in Iraq. A lot of people put their reputations on the line and said the weapons of mass destruction is a reason to remove Saddam Hussein. It wasn’t just people in my administration; a lot of members in Congress, prior to my arrival in Washington D.C., during the debate on Iraq, a lot of leaders of nations around the world were all looking at the same intelligence. And, you know, that’s not a do-over, but I wish the intelligence had been different, I guess."
On what he was unprepared for: "I think I was unprepared for war. In other words, I didn't campaign and say, 'Please vote for me, I'll be able to handle an attack.' In other words, I didn't anticipate war. Presidents — one of the things about the modern presidency is that the unexpected will happen.
On how he judges his legacy: "The thing that's important for me is to get home and look in that mirror and say, I did not compromise my principles. And I didn't. I made tough calls. And some presidencies have got a lot of tough decisions to make."
On Obama's election: "I think it was a repudiation of Republicans. And I'm sure some people voted for Barack Obama because of me. I think most people voted for Barack Obama because they decided they wanted him to be in their living room for the next four years explaining policy."

Considering that many in the media and numerous Democrats supported the war, do you think history will forget that Bush overlooked good intelligence and reports from the inspectors that concluded Iraq had no WMDs?

Obama Introduces National Security Team Starring Hillary!

LibertySugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:30:57 -0800

This morning President-elect Obama rolled out his national security team, proving that you don't have to be an Obama loyalist to get a plumb role in his administration. Hillary Clinton appeared as the next US secretary of state, delivering a moving acceptance speech.

Joining Hillary was Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Robert M. Gates, the current defense secretary, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano who will be secretary of Homeland Security, Gen. James L. Jones, the former NATO commander who will be a national security adviser, Eric Holder who will serve as attorney general, and Susan Rice, the next UN ambassador.

While Obama made it obvious that he wasn't going to outline his entire plan to keep the nation secure, the press conference did have some insightful moments. They include:

Obama on what made him tap Hillary: "She possesses an extraordinary intelligence and toughness, and a remarkable work ethic. . . . She is an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence, who knows many of the world's leaders, who will command respect in every capital, and who will clearly have the ability to advance our interests around the world."
On how he reconciled with former rival Hillary: "I extended her the offer and she accepted. I know that’s not as juicy a story as you were hoping for, but that’s all you’re going to get.”
On his role as leader of the team of rivals: "I will be setting policy as president. The buck will stop with me.”
After thanking her fellow New Yorkers, Hillary said: "Mr. President-elect, I am proud to join you on what will be a difficult and exciting adventure in this new century."

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Paper or Cash? Supermarket Bagger Returns Lost $10,000

LibertySugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0800

Moses, a supermarket bagger, says the bible inspired him to return $10,000 in cash he found in his store's bathroom. Moses explained: "I teach at Sunday school with 10-year-old kids and I always tell them to do the right thing."

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CNN deemed Moses' action so unusually generous that it sent a reporter to the store to discuss his decision making process. But perhaps choosing to return the money isn't so surprising. Despite the lure of free money, $10,000 on a bathroom floor seems a little fishy. Maybe Moses didn't want to get mixed up in any trouble, since someone would probably come looking for the cash.

What would you do if you found $10,000 in a bathroom?

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Sporty Science: Test Reveals Sport Child Is Born to Play

LibertySugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:01:49 -0800

For only $149 fanatical parents can find out where their children's natural athletic talents lie, potentially securing years of enjoyable Saturday mornings on the sidelines cheering on their winning kids.

The new genetic test analyzes DNA to determine whether a child would excel more in endurance sports, such as cross country running, speed and power sports, like football and sprinting, or whether they'd be good at both.

Predetermining a kid's talents before he or she experiences athletic activities seems like it could limit chances for childhood fun. Then again, it might be better if a quarterback-turned-dad gets his disappointment out of the way early when he finds out his son is meant to be a figure skater.

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Only Captured Terrorist Speaks About Mumbai Massacre

CitizenSugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:50:00 -0800

Azam Amir Kassab, a 21-year-old man from Pakistan, is the only terrorist police captured alive after the Mumbai massacre ended. Details from his interrogation have been leaked, and they reveal a chilling picture of a nightmarish tragedy that could have turned out even worse. After playing dead in order to survive, Kassab told police:

The synchronized attacks were planned six months ago, and intended to kill 5,000 people. So far the death toll stands at around 200.
The group of 10 terrorists had planned to blow up the entire Taj Mahal hotel, but were unsuccessful.
The would-be attackers posed as students on a trip to Mumbai a month ago to acquaint themselves with the city.
The men specifically targeted "whites," especially British and American citizens.
Kassab said he belonged to Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has denied involvement.
Kassab said he was told to "kill to my last breath."

As those impacted by these appalling events recover and mourn, international players urgently want to reduce the probability of a confrontation between India and Pakistan. Depending on how things play out, India might take a US approach: if one country can't deal with its terrorists, then another country has a right to do something about it.
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Should Barack Obama Meet Cuba's Raul Castro?

LibertySugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Cuban President Raul Castro is ready to listen to what President-elect Barack Obama has to say about US-Cuban relations. But Castro told Sean Penn, who traveled to Cuba to interview the dictator, that the meeting would have to be on neutral ground. Castro said: Personally, I think it would not be fair that I be the first to visit, because it is always the Latin American presidents who go to the United States first. But it would also be unfair to expect the president of the United States to come to Cuba. We should meet in a neutral place. Perhaps we could meet at Guantanamo.

Apparently Castro would set a location precondition before meeting face-to-face with the US president. As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama indicated that he would take steps to loosen the US-Cuba trade embargo. The majority of you agreed with such a policy. So tell me what you think about this proposal — should Barack Obama set up a meeting with Raul Castro in a neutral place to discuss the 40-year grudge?Source

Should Barack Obama Meet Cuba's Raul Castro?

Yay! Could bring change, plus the US shouldn't fear talking to the leader of a small island.

Nay. An American president should not validate Castro with a meeting.

Maybe. Obama should be open to meeting, but on his terms, not Castro's.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Wal-Mart Worker Dies on a Very Black Friday

LibertySugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:01:00 -0800

A 34-year-old temporary holiday worker died under a stampede of 2,000 discount hungry Wal-Mart shoppers yesterday. Witnesses described crowds at the Long Island, NY, Wal-Mart as savages; shoppers busted down doors and cut each other in line. Other shoppers, including a pregnant woman, were rushed to the hospital.

Not every store saw a surge, violent or not, in shopping. In anticipation of lower than usual performance, retailers took a hit in the stock market, as company shares dipped on Friday. But regardless of tough economic times, foreign shoppers vacationing in the US came out in significant numbers to take advantage of bargains compounded by a favorable exchange rate. Some speculate that tourists could save the holiday shopping season this year.

Did you brave the stores yesterday for Black Friday, or are you waiting for less chaotic Cyber Monday?

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Peeping Tom Laws Can't Keep Up With Technology

LibertySugar — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:00:14 -0800

If you're hitting the mall today to score some Black Friday deals, you might want to look out for suspicious men ready to assault you with their flashes. Camera phone-armed perverts have found it easy to snap pictures of women's private parts, and get away with it.

In Tulsa, OK recently, a man caught sticking his camera phone up a fellow shopper's skirt to take a picture of her underwear, walked away with no conviction, since the state's law held that the woman had no right to such privacy in public.

In response, Salon reports, Oklahoma lawmakers passed legislation making it explicitly illegal to take a photo of someone's private parts in public. Believe it or not, almost half of US states have similar loopholes in need of closing. Hopefully lawmakers react quickly, since these Peeping Toms can instantly post these cell phone pictures online.

Have you ever been assaulted with a camera phone . . . that you know of?

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Update: Militants Attack in Mumbai, India

LibertySugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:53:27 -0800

Indian officials report that the siege at the Taj Mahal hotel has ended and the final three gunmen have been killed. More than 119 people were killed and 288 injured in sophisticated attacks in Mumbai, India, that occurred on 10 different sites. — AP
Experts had never heard of the group that claimed responsibility, and they doubt those responsible have significant ties to al Qaeda. Some speculate that the militants were likely Indian Muslims, with a domestic agenda — New York Times
Chaos ensues at two luxury hotels in Mumbai that continue to burn. Some hostages left earlier today, but 20 people may still be held by terrorists. — CNN
The synchronized attacks reveal a significant change in the tactics of Indian terrorists. The men were prepared to die in their attacks, and signaled out British and American citizens. — BBC News

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Chief Rabbis Call For Prayer to End Financial Crisis

LibertySugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:00:54 -0800

While Americans give thanks tomorrow, Israel's top rabbis have called for mass prayer rallies across Israel to help end the global financial crisis. Jewish religious institutions have been hit hard by the economic downturn, as fundraising efforts in the US and Europe have proved futile.

This past summer, religious leaders in the US held gas station-side prayer vigils in an attempt to reduce pain at the pump. Considering gas prices have dropped to 2004 levels, those who pray for solutions may be onto something.

With the US government prepared to spend as much as $7.4 trillion on the financial mess to no obvious avail, perhaps it's time to start pursuing cheaper options.

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